Photographer: Michael Abril
“Just so everyone knows Michael Abril is a photography buddy of mine and we’ve worked on a few projects together in the past. He’s a good guy and one courageous dude..enjoy..” 
VC interviews Michael Abril
Sometimes in life you meet people that you end up looking up to, and over time, you learn that you have a greater respect for them because of what they’ve been through and overcome in their lifetime. Michael Abril is one of those people. Born and raised in Bogota Colombia this up-and-coming photographer left his native country to pursue one aspect of what he calls the reinvention of himself. A former industrial designer he has survived the blandish office-type environment and came out of it with his creativity still intact. Thank god!
While his artistic qualities laid dormant, it took some life-altering changes to wake up what was unknowingly within. Losing his father to cancer in 2004, and the ending of a long 9-year relationship were just some life hurdles that have led to this process of self-reinvention….
Website: http://www.michaelabril.com
“Photography is more democratic, it’s like an open window and everyone can look” ~ MA
Interview:
The waitress sticks me way in the back out of eyes view. I wait at the cafe and prepare my things for the interview, he’s running a little late. Thanks STM (Société de transport de Montréal) you never disappoint!
Visual Curiosity (VC) – I know you are still studying photography, and you are well aware of the obstacles that you’ll face, especially nowadays competition is fierce but what keeps you motivated?
Michael Abril (MA) – Being in Montreal is part of the re-invention process and it’s just the beginning. Dawson’s Commercial Photography program has given me the opportunity to experience a realm of the photography that was never presented to me in the past.
The natural need for knowledge keeps me going I want to learn and I want to be better. To tell you the truth I don’t think of the competition as much, right now I’m doing what I need to do to be successful and that’s the most important thing.
VC – Touché man, Touché….After looking through some of your work I’ve noticed that you have somewhat of a photojournalistic style, is that something you will be pursuing ?
MA – I feel more comfortable with a photojournalistic/documentary approach; capturing and documenting events as they unfold. But being in the program I have discovered another side of photography; the studio environment, the lighting techniques, theory, and the production behind the shoot.
Also a part of me is deeply rooted to acts of social responsibility. I think Montreal could be my base, and I could find other areas of need to feed my projects. I see photography related to social issues. I want to use my work in a useful way; I want it to be part of an important cause and right now I see myself working in documentary and editorial-like photography.
VC – How did you start, when did you decide to take your photography to the next level??
MC – I started about 5 years ago. I was always interested but I was caught in that trap of social expectations. After some unexpected events, I in way found a part of who I was again and I looked at it as an opportunity to further explore who I was as a person. It’s not till after I went abroad that I started to breathe photography.
VC – I walked down similar roads my friend. Not an easy thing…
VC – What is your favourite genre of photography outside from what you do now?
MA – Travel photography I find to be very interesting and also interior design/architectural photography.
VC – And as cliche as it is, its a must. Why do you love photography? Why is it such a passion for you?
MA -Photography is like the magic of an instant…an instant that could be real or artificial. There are moments of a story about someone, and if you can capture that emotion and deeply feel what you see, then that’s my personal vision of what photography is about. I think those are some reasons to why I love it. It’s a memory, an interpretation of that particular person or instant. It’s such an accessible art and more democratic, it is like an open window and everyone can look.
VC – Last but not least and one of the most important questions of the day: Canon or Nikon?? 
MA – Before I seriously started I always dreamt of shooting with Nikon but through some coincidences I began with a Canon and I’m quite satisfied for now. I don’t really have any profound reasons to stay with Canon or switch to Nikon, as long as I have a camera then I’m happy. ***
